Local RadioShack not closing

RadioShack announced this week it will close 1,100 stores, but not the one in Decorah.In a Forbes Magazine article, RadioShack said it selected its stores in “under-performing markets” based on location, area, demographics, lease life and financial performance.

Last year, RadioShack reported a loss of $400.2 million, following a loss of $139.4 million in 2012.

“The largest culprit of the sales loss was a bad holiday season that saw a 19-percent sales decline,” said RadioShack CEO Joseph Magnacca in the Forbes article.

Local spending

Ryan Christensen, owner of Sims TV and Electronics, said he believes “the desire to shop local and the loyalty of our customers are reasons we are still here.”

He added the store has seen the effects of customers’ lower spending habits and being more careful with their budgets.

“It is a hard time for smaller retail stores with the ease of online shopping and people watching every dollar they spend,” said Christensen.

Value added

Christensen said it is important for consumers to remember to support their local establishments.

“While we may not always have the lowest price, we have something that is harder to find from a big-box store or a faceless online retailer: great customer service and knowledge of our products … We are willing to work with our customers to get the answers they need,” said Christensen.

Christensen said as his store continues to evolve and change with some of RadioShack’s new ideas and concepts, he hopes customers will keep coming back.

“Here, they know they can get what they want at a great price and we’ll help them learn how to use it … We’re more than a place to get batteries,” he said.